Aluminum Neck Club

[Jimbowhit7]

Hi all!
I'll be joining this club before too long, hopefully - I've ordered a Baguley 2x2 bass neck that I plan to install on a parts bass. I went with their 35" conversion neck so I could downtune easily, I'm super excited to try out an aluminum neck. They sound as cool as they look!

 

[220_Hz]

What strings do you all use? I’ve been using stainless steel strings but I left them under tension for a while and they started eating at my nut & bridge. Not sure if I want to stop using steel strings or if I just need to start slacking the strings when I’m not playing it. I had this same issue with the zero frets on my Kramers

 

[Kendescending]

@220_Hz I use nickel wound just for this reason

 

[Poobini]

What strings do you all use? I’ve been using stainless steel strings but I left them under tension for a while and they started eating at my nut & bridge. Not sure if I want to stop using steel strings or if I just need to start slacking the strings when I’m not playing it. I had this same issue with the zero frets on my Kramers

I'd just go with nickels, like @Kendescending - I prefer the feel and sound anyway, but I've never had an issue with nickels. I've definitely seen zero frets get messed up regardless of string (my old Sandberg had a torched zero fret despite having low tension nickels). I reckon since the contact is more or less always there, it's just going to wear much faster regardless of string material.
If your strings are messing up your bridge and nut, maybe consider giving everything a deep clean (possible corrosion or something)? Repetitive friction is going to wear stuff down eventually, but it shouldn't be as extreme as you're experiencing.

 

[cataract]

I just restrung my Obstructures with some Dunlop nickels and it sounds superb. I was using nickel wound Rotosounds on my RGI necked Precision and it sounded good.. I think I’m gonna try out some DR Hi-Beams on my Aluminati Ripper once I get the body and put it together. But yeah Dunlop Nickels are my new fave strings I think, I have some on my Mendel P and it sounds awesome

 

[220_Hz]

I just restrung my Obstructures with some Dunlop nickels and it sounds superb. I was using nickel wound Rotosounds on my RGI necked Precision and it sounded good.. I think I’m gonna try out some DR Hi-Beams on my Aluminati Ripper once I get the body and put it together. But yeah Dunlop Nickels are my new fave strings I think, I have some on my Mendel P and it sounds awesome

Careful about leaving hi beams under tension for long periods of time. A couple days won’t harm it but don’t put them on and forget about them

 

[Jimbowhit7]

Careful about leaving hi beams under tension for long periods of time. A couple days won’t harm it but don’t put them on and forget about them

Serious question, what's wrong with leaving them tuned to tension? Can an aluminum neck not handle that?

 

[cataract]

Serious question, what's wrong with leaving them tuned to tension? Can an aluminum neck not handle that?

Yeah I’m interested in hearing about this take too. Never worried about them on my regular wooden necks.. only thing I can figure is maybe steel on raw aluminum having an oxidizing effect maybe? Tension shouldn’t be a problem

 

[220_Hz]

I’m assuming that it’s because of the hardness of the steel strings pressing against the softer aluminum parts with 30-50 pounds of tension when they’re at pitch. I can send pics of the bridge, there’s a noticeable impression of the string windings where there wasn’t before. Also I noticed that the A string slot is less sharp and more… string shaped? It’s a bit rounder than it was previously

 

[Kendescending]

I modified my Peavey Patriot bass body to fit my Fender style Alef neck and really liking the outcome

 

[Poobini]

I modified my Peavey Patriot bass body to fit my Fender style Alef neck and really liking the outcomeView attachment 4919679

That looks sick!!! How far back did you have to move the bridge?

 

[ZachM]

I modified my Peavey Patriot bass body to fit my Fender style Alef neck and really liking the outcomeView attachment 4919679

Oh man this is wicked! The Patriot was supposedly a lower-end model back when it was being manufactured, but those Super Ferrite pickups just absolutely rip, just amazing. I bet that thing is just so gnarly with the aluminum.

I've always really liked the body shape too, it looks a little bit like the TB500 longhorn basses that EGC makes now.

 

[Kendescending]

That looks sick!!! How far back did you have to move the bridge?

Thanks! Due to my miscalculation with the Peavey neck having 21 frets vs. the Fender's 20, I had to move the saddles back about 5/8-3/4". Since the body is in very rough condition, I figured a few extra holes in the body wouldn't hurt in case it didn't work out.

 

[8liter]

My ECG 2000 is on the truck to be delivered any minute now....been wanting one for 15 years. Ordered the build late 2021.

 

[rileyduff1]

My ECG 2000 is on the truck to be delivered any minute now....been wanting one for 15 years. Ordered the build late 2021.

Post pics when you get it! I've been debating putting one of those on order for the last few months.

 

[8liter]

Here you go.

So far I'm in love. Plays fantastic. Neck is dead straight. Fret work is beautiful. The color is super hard to photograph, but I asked Kevin to match it as close as possible to Harley Davidson Black Pearl and it's nearly dead on. Came in a new Fender case and boxed very well.

No regrets. Sustain for days and plays beautifully.

 

[rileyduff1]

Here you go.

So far I'm in love. Plays fantastic. Neck is dead straight. Fret work is beautiful. The color is super hard to photograph, but I asked Kevin to match it as close as possible to Harley Davidson Black Pearl and it's nearly dead on. Came in a new Fender case and boxed very well.

No regrets. Sustain for days and plays beautifully.

That thing is beautiful! Congrats! Kevin and the guys do amazing work for sure. I love that you got the non standard pickup placement on it, that's exactly what I would be ordering as well. Man, you got my wanting to put in another order with them ha ha ha.

 

[tallchris]

Post pics when you get it! I've been debating putting one of those on order for the last few months.

Gorgeous bass and that's a pretty dang quick turnaround time (my Series 2 guitar took about 3 years, though that was during the time when they moved from FL to AL and had to staff back up).

 

[220_Hz]

Nice.

 

[sargebaker]

R&D on aluminum necks still under way! Here's another bass I recently put together with a neck from Robot Graves. It's a Mojo Pickups goldfoil in the neck and a Guild BS-1 in the bridge. I've got am Aluminati neck in production for a custom commission/new model due later this year and I'm crossing my fingers that funding comes through for a pretty major project I have planned with Alex (Robot Graves). Hopefully to have news for you guys soon!

It's funny, I thought I'd really dislike the razor thin profile of Alex's necks... but I've fallen quite in love with them, especially on bass.